Attachment for ink rollers and printing machines



G. BABICZ Aug. 1, 1950 ATTACHMENT FOR INK ROLLERS AND PRINTING MACHINES Filed Oct. 18, 1946 6 rgVEgTQR.

60596 a CZ;

Patented Aug. 1, 1 950 ATTACHMENT FOR INK ROLLERS AND PRINTING MACHINES George Babicz, Chicago, Ill.

Application October 18, 1946, Serial No. 703,955

11 Claims. (01. 101-363) Thepresent invention relates to attachments I for ink rollers in printing machines.

In printing machines the ink roller is partially submerged in ink. As the ink roller rotates, it contacts with another roller which by compression spreads the ink on the ink roller in a uniform film in order that the ink may be transferred from the ink roller to the impression roller in a film of uniform thickness. As the ink roller rotates at a high speed, the ink has a tendency, due to a centrifugal force, to be gathered by and uponthe end of the ink roller, and thereupon to spatter in an upward direction and fall upon the face of the ink roller, to be subsequently transferred to the impression roller, without being first acted upon by the spreading roller.

Therefore, the principal object of the present invention is the provision of a suitable guard cooperating with the end of the ink roller for preventing ink to gather upon the end of the latter for obviating the above stated objections. A still further object of the present invention is the provision of a stationary plate, contacting theend of the ink roller adjacent the area of contact thereof with the ink spreading roller, for preventing the ink from being carried by the ink roller past its contact point with the ink spreading roller.

A still further object of the present invention isthe provision of suitable mounting means for the guard upon the shafts carrying the ink and ink spreading rollers.

With the above general objects in view and others that will appear as the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing and pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawing forming a part of this application, and in which like designating characters refer to corresponding parts throughout the several views: i

Fig. l is a cross-section through the ink well, anda pair of shafts upon which the ink and ink spreading rollers are mounted, with the present device in a side elevation, the view having been taken on line II of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the two rollers, their shafts and the ink well, with the present device in an operative position therewith.

' Referring in detail to the present drawing there is'shown ink well III, with shafts II and. I2 in a longitudinal relation therewith. Shaft II carries ink spreading roller I3, usually made of metal, while shaft I2 has ink roller I4 mounted thereon. The latter roller is usually made of rubber, and is of a diameter larger than the diameter of ink spreading roller I3. Said ink roller I4, by its lower portion is submerged in ink I5, While roller I3 remains above the surface of the ink in Well Ill. One side of ink well I0 is spaced away from the adjacent roller I3, while the opposite side thereof is in contact with ink roller I4, as at IE, at a point below the diametrical, horizontal plane extended through said roller I4. At that point said roller I4 contacts with impression roller H, which remains on the outside of well Ill, and to which the ink impression is transferred from ink roller I4.

As said rollers I3 and I4 rotate into the directions indicated by arrows inFig. 1,. the ink spreading roller I 3, contacting with roller I4, spreads the ink upon the latter roller in an uni-, form film before the same is transferred to impression roller IT. The degree of pressure between rollers I3 and I4, and consequent thickness of ink film upon roller I4, may be regulated by a device such as is described in my patent dated August 7, 1945, No. 2,381,712.

The above is substantiallythe usual construction and arrangement of ink, ink spreading and impression rollers, and the ink well.

Due to the fact that ink roller I4 is dipped in ink I5, when said roller I 4 rotates at a high speed it carries by its end face, that is the face which is in a transverse relation with the periphery thereof, the ink, in an upward direction. That ink is obviously not acted upon by ink spreading roller I3. The ink thus carried by the endof saidrollerspatters and is thrown off said roller I4, often falling upon the periphery thereof, withoutbeing acted upon by roller I3, and is being transferred to roller I! in blotches.

I To obviate the above objections a suitable guard constituting the subject matter of this application, is provided, to contact with the end of roller I4 for the purpose of wiping off any adhering ink as said roller I4 during its rotation approaches the contact point with rolle I3, thereby eliminating any possibility of ink being carried by the end of said roller I4 past the contact point with roller I3. I,

Said guard includes plate I8 which contacts the area of the end face of said roller I4 adjacent the contact point between rollers I3 and I4, and

I well below. said point, the lower edge of said plate I8 being disposed above the surface of ink I5 in well I0. The end of said plate I8, adjacent roller I3, has an arcuate recess I9, within which collar 20 is receivable.

Encompassing said collar 20 from the side dia as shaft I I rotates. Collar 2!! is rigidly afiixed to" shaft II by screw 25. The object of'collarZfi is to provide a linin upon which plate I8 and-finger 2| may be suspended in contactual relation, rather than contact directly with shaft I I." This pre vents wearing off of the shaft due to friction As collar 23 is gradually worn off due to friction exerted thereupon by said plate I8 andfingeril, the latter may be shifted toward said collar 20 and plate late-accommodate said plate it and finger 2 to the gradually diminishing'dia'meter of said-collar 2b. This its-accomplished by loosening screw 24, shifting finger 2i" toward collar and plate I8 and thereupon tightening screw 24 to maintain plate I8-and finger 2! in a relative rigid mutual-relation. As collar Zll ultimately wears off completely, the sameis disengaged from shaft I l and a new collar substituted in its place. Thus said collar 2d constitutes a protective guard fo'r' shaft I I against the frictional action'of plate I8 and finger 2|.

The opposite-endof plate! 8 is reduced effecting an oblong arm 28 extending from the upper portion of plate I8. Saidarm 26 overlies and rests upon shaft I2.

Mounted upon the free end of arm 26, by means o'f-lip 2i; resting upon the upper edge of arm 26, and screw 8 passing said lip 21 and engaging said ar'm 26, is downwardly extending skirt 29, which is' in a spaced'relation with the end of roller I4.

integrally formed with the lower end of said skirt zeand projecting toward plate Ill-is tongue which contacts shaft 12 at-a point diametrically opposite from that upon which arm 26 contacts said shaft I2.

From the here-inabove description it willbe seen that 'due' to the engagement of-plate I3 and finger Ill with shaft I 6 through collar 20, and with shaft I;2th'rough arm 26 and tongue 3i said plate is incapable of longitudinal shifting movement transversally of shafts ll and I2 or rollers I3 and I4.

Asis seen in Fig. 1, skirt 29"at its body portion laterally of shaft I2 is provided'with'an arcuate recess 3!, the edge of which is spaced from shaft I2. Likewise said shaft I2 is spaced from said plate I8. This arrangement permits adjustments of 'sh'afts SI and l2 and of rollers l3 and I4- to or away fro'm'each other for regulating the pressure between the latter for regulating in turn the thickness of the ink film upon roller I4, without hindrance from said plate Hi and skirt'29.

Obviously, shaft I2 may be provided with a collar similar to collar 2i], to constitute a guard for shaft I2, with which arm 26 and tongue 30 may contact.

a To assemble the device upon shafts II and I2, first plate I Send arm 26' are brought to the position shown in Fig. 1, then finger 2! is alfixed to plate I8" by screw 24 and thereupon skirt 2!! is mounted upon arm 26 and affixed byscrew 28.

The means for maintaining plate I 8 in contact with the end of ink roller I4 includes. block 32 which is provided with slot 33 within which the rimo'f well if} is receivable and upon which said block 32 may be adjusted in a longitudinal relation. Thumb screw 34, passing said block 32 engages the rim of well if} and maintains the former in a rigid adjusted position. In the upper end said block 32 is provided with a bore within which one end of wire spring 35 is receivable and wherein the same is anchored by means of screw 36 engaging said wire spring 35 in'a transverse relation. The body portion'of said wire spring 35 is flexed toward plate l8 and its free end bent downwardly in a vertical direction to bear against the adjacent face of plate I8 and to exert pressurethereon for maintaining the same in contact with the end face of roller I4.

Plate if! at its upper edge and at point of the peripl'iery- Of roller I'll removed from the contact point of rollers l3 and I4 in an upward direction, is"provided with downwardly extending slot 31, into which any excess of ink carried by roller I4 from the contact point of 'said rollers I31 and I4 and plate iai may-seepinto and from there flowalong the outer face'of plate I8 into-well" III. This excess of ink atthe contact point between rollers I3 and I land plate is maybe brought aboutby the capillary action,- but theamount thereof will be insignificant-in comparison 'tothe inkwhich wouldb'e carried by the end'face of' roller i lend from there-transferred to'thepe riph-ery thereof, were itnot for said pl'ate IS;

From the hereinabove description it J will :be readily appreciatedthat'plate- HI -acts as 'a brushto'wipe'ofi any ink from the end' faceiof' roller M which otherwise would be: carried upwardly and past the contact point'b'etween rollers I3 'and I4 anddue to the centrifugal action of roller I4 would be thrown off therebyto'spatter and fall upon theperipheral face ofroller I4 to besubsequently carried to impression roller'I'I in un' desirable quantities, This objection is completely eliminated by'the use of plate'lfi.

It is further observed thatsince both plate-I8 and arm 25 are in contact-with the'end face'ofroller If: at'leastto the radial extent thereof, on the side of saidroller l4 nearestto roller I3 ;'they both act as a brush preventing any portion of the end face of roller I4 from carrying'ink in an up: ward direction. 4

While there isdescribed herein'a preferred embodiment of'the present invention, it is neverthe less to be understoodthat minor changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

WhatI claimas new is:

1. In av printing machine a pairof rollers in a longitudinal contacting relation; one of said rollers being an ink roller; shafts upon which said rollers are mounted, a plate in contactwith the end faces of said rollers at'the areasthereof adjacent their contact,, said platebeing provided with an arcuate recess, amember mounted upon said plate in an'adjustable relation therewith, said member being provided with an arcuate recess complementary to said first named recess, one of said shafts being positionedwithin said two recesses in a transverse relation with" saidplate; and means associated with saidplate for supporting the'same upon the other'of said shafts.

2. ma printing machine a pair of roll'ersin' a: longitudinal contacting. relation, one of said rollers being, an ink roller, shafts upon which. said rollers are mounted, a platein contact with the end faces of saidrollers' at'the areas thereof adjacent their contact, said plate being provided with an'arcuate recess, a member mounted'upon said plate in an adjustablerelation therewith, said member being provided with an arcuate recess complementary to saidfirst named recess, a collar mounted upon one of said shafts, said collar entering said two recesses for supporting said plate upon said last named shaft, and means associated with said plate for supporting the same upon the other of said shafts.

3. In a printing machine a pair of rollers in a longitudinal contacting relation, one of said rollers being an ink roller, shafts upon which said rollers are mounted, a plate in contact with the end faces of said rollers at the areas thereof adjacent their contact, said plate being provided with an arcuate recess, a member mounted upon said plate in an adjustable relation therewith, said member being provided with an arcuate recess complementary to said first named recess, a collar mounted upon one of said shafts, said collar entering said two recesses for supporting said plate upon said last named shaft, and means associated with said plate for supporting the same upon the other of said shafts, said means including an arm extending from said plate, said arm resting upon said last named shaft.

4. In a printing machine a pair of rollers in a longitudinal contacting relation, one of said rollers being an ink roller, shafts upon which said rollers are mounted, a plate in contact with the end faces of said rollers at the areas thereof adjacent their contact, said plate being provided with an arcuate recess, a member mounted upon said plate in an adjustable relation therewith, said member being provided with an arcuate recess complementary to said first named recess, said recesses defining a circular opening when said member is in operative adjusted position with relation to said plate, said opening receiving one of said shafts in a transverse relation with said plate, a replaceable protective guard mounted upon said last named shaft and interposed therebetween and the body portions of said plate and said member adjacent said recesses, and means associated with said plate for supporting the same upon the other of said shafts.

5. In a printing machine a pair of rollers in a longitudinal contacting relation, one of said rollers being an ink roller, shafts upon which said rollers are mounted, a plate in contact with the end faces of said rollers at the areas thereof adjacent their contact, said plate being provided with an arcuate recess, a member mounted upon said plate in an adjustable relation therewith, said member being provided with an arcuate recess complementary to said first named recess, one of said shafts being positioned within said two recesses in a transverse relation with said plate, means for supporting said plate upon the other of said shafts, and means for maintaining said plate in contact with the end faces of said rollers.

6. In a printing machine a pair of rollers in a longitudinal contacting relation, one of said rollers being an ink roller, shafts upon which said rollers are mounted, a plate in contact with the end faces of said rollers at the areas thereof adjacent their contact, said plate constituting a shield for preventing the ink roller gathering ink at its end, and means for mounting said plate on at least one of said shafts, said plate at its upper edge being partially transversely cut out for providing an open oblong recess at a point past the contact point of said rollers for permitting draining of any ink carried by said ink roller past the contact point ofglthe two jrollers, said recess being in a, substantially, perpendicular re,- lation with the horizontal planeoof said ink roller. l l H "7. In a printing machine,-;a pairiof rollers in a longitudinal contacting relation, one of said rolllast named shaft at a point diametrically opposite from the point of contact of said arm.

8. In aprinting machine, a pair of rollers in a longitudinal contactin relation, one Of said rollers being an ink roller, shafts upon which said rollers are mounted, a plate in contact with the end faces of said rollers, means for mounting said plate upon one of said shafts, an arm extending from said plate, said arm being on a plane parallel to the plane of the axes of the two shafts, said arm contacting a point in the periphery of the other of said shafts, and a member adjustable upon and in a longitudinal relation with said arm, said member contacting the periphery of said last named, shaft at a point diametrically opposite from the point of contact of said arm, said plate and said member being in a spaced relation with said last named shaft on a plane transverse of a plane upon which said arm and said member contact said last named shaft.

9. In a printing machine a pair of rollers in a. longitudinal contacting relation, one of said rollers being an ink roller, shafts upon which said rollers are mounted, an ink well above which said rollers and said shafts are disposed, a shield in contact with the end faces of said rollers for preventing ink from being gathered by said rollers adjacent the ends thereof, means for mounting said shield in a transverse relation with said shafts, and a resilient member adjustably supported by said ink well in a longitudinal relation with said rollers for maintaining said shield in contact with the end faces of said rollers,

10. In a printing machine a pair of rollers in a longitudinal contacting relation, one of said rollers being an ink roller, shafts upon which said rollers are mounted, an ink well above which said rollers and said shafts are disposed, a shield in contact with the end faces of said rollers for preventing ink from being gathered by said rollers adjacent the ends thereof, means for mounting said shield in a transverse relation with said shafts, a block supported upon the rim of said ink well in a longitudinally adjustable relation with said rollers, and a resilient member carried by said block, said resilient member bearing against said shield for maintainin the same in contact with the end faces of said rollers.

11. In a printing machine a pair of rollers in a longitudinal contacting relation, one of said rollers being an ink roller, shafts upon which said rollers are mounted, an ink well above which said rollers and said shafts are disposed, a shield in contact with the and faces of said rollers for preventing ink from being gathered by said rollers adjacent the ends thereof, means for mounting said shield in a transverse relation with said shafts, a mounting member supported upon the rim of said ink well, and a resilient member caring thesame in c'onta t withtheend faces of said rollers, said mounting member being longitudi- 11311151"adjustatbl upon said'rim" for regulating the 5 degree-of pressure'o'f said resilient member upo'n said-shield.

GEORGE BABICZ REFERENCES CIT-ED" The following rfffic''s afe or r'ecbr'dm the 'fil' of this patefit:

UNi'fED STATES" PATENTS 

